This very, upright, architectural plant holds its own at the back of a border. Tapering terminal bloom spikes, more than a foot long, are echoed by shorter axilary spikes, all of them narrowing from an inch at their bases to pointed tips. It is wonderful to watch them unfurl like swans unfolding their necks. The dark green leaves are assembled in whorls at about three-inch intervals up the stems of Veronicastrum virginicum 'Album'.